<I>The Creature, having dripped down from the bottom of its birth-thread to the top of the next, flows down into the box.</I><P>SPLUT. BLUT PLAP.<P><I>Well, perhaps "flow" is a little too graceful.</I><P>Blrblblrb....<P><I>The Creature, full from Simon's chocolate malt and rested after escaping the burning thread, has taken its leisure time to develop a primitive-- perhaps the most primitive-- form of communication...</I><P>:)<P><I>...The emoticon.</I>

<I>The Creature messily devours the jelly beans.</I><P>:)<P><I>It attempts to do the same to the book, but succeeds only in leaching a little color out of the cover. Unable to read or digest the book, the Creature ignores it.</I><P>:(<P><I>The Creature then attempts to devise new, Creature-centric emoticons that will express its slimy emotional states.</I><P>(<B>O</B>)<P><I>Turn your head sideways to read it.</I>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Creature:<B><I>...The emoticon.</I></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Ooooh, pretty faces! I wonder if we can teach it more...<P>::drops a book on emoticons next to the creature::<P>::drops some jelly beans next to it, too, for good measure::<P>Chris/Kritter

Lummox JR notices the creature is still an anaerobe, so surrounds the slimy being with plants in order to up the O<SUB>2</SUB>/CO<SUB>2</SUB> ratio to encourage the development of an aerobic metabolism. Got to get the most out of those jellybeans, you know.<P>------------------It's the 21st century; where's my flying car?<p>[This message has been edited by Lummox JR (edited 05-27-2001).]

<I>The Creature tries to digest the low-hanging leaves brushing its surface.</I><P><B>(</B>O<B>)</B><P><I>The vegetable matter is too strong and complex for the Creature to break down.</I><P>:(<P><I>It rejects the meal and attempts to incorporate the thread's oxygen into a more powerful metabolic system.</I><P>(<B>O</B>)<P><I>As time passes, a network of threads and nodules clots into view within the Creature, and its outer surface thickens and layers itself into a membrane, still soft but now more complex. The Creature absorbs small amounts of oxygen and secretes a few digestive enzymes into its mucous, breaking down the nearby plant material outside its body before letting it sink in and dissolve. The process is at once fascinating and really, really gross.</I><P>(O)

<I>Chris tries again to teach the creature more emoticons.</I><P>Here, creature! Try this <A HREF="http://www.gripweeds.com/emoticon.htm" TARGET=_blank>link</A>.<P><I>Chris throws the link to the creature.</I>

<I>The Creature has contracted into a gooey hump, quivering in anxiety.</I><P><B>(O)</B><P><I>It doesn't understand most of the emoticons (aquanaut? wearing glasses? bald?), and the ones it does understand scare it. Angry. Evil. Mute.</I><P>:(<P><I>The Creature desires a brain with which to understand these threats.</I><P>(<B>O</B>)<P><I>Well, a brain, and a big, staring eyeball, and a few sets of metal claws, but first things first.</I><p>[This message has been edited by The Creature (edited 05-29-2001).]

<i>Based on the emoticons, Strange/Dave wonders if the creature is related to <A HREF="http://oneoverzero.keenspace.com/d/20010523.html" TARGET=_blank>Junior of 1/0 fame</A>.</i><P>--Strange/Dave<P><P>------------------<A HREF="http://viciouslies.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Vicious Lies.</A> You can't handle the truth.Neurotic -- sane, but unhappy about it.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Creature:<B><I>Well, a brain, and a big, staring eyeball, and a few sets of metal claws, but first things first.</I></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I'm not sure I *want* this thing evolving any further. Anyone got any good links on social etiquette we could toss it, maybe teach it some good manners? <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/biggrin.gif">

Well first of all, you can't teach it good manners unless you exhibit them yourself. Do unto others you know ...<P>Wherever did you find this creature? My goodness! It's looking a little cold!<P>:: slides the box over next to the register ::<P>You know, I took care of a creature when I was a little girl. <P>:: walks to the refrigerator and pulls something out ::<P>You can't really say you own them you know. Mine liked lettuce. :: starts shredding some lettuce :: You never can tell, because they all evolve just a little differently. Doesn't hurt to try though. :: sets the lettuce next to the box ::<P>You never put anything directly into the box with them. You just set it down next to them and let them see if they like it. ... That's it. Just let it try at it's own pace.<P>That membrane looks like it's pretty new. I bet it's lost a lot of water. :: walks to the cupboard and pulls out a large bowl. starts filling it with water :: Maybe later you can offer it some milk or coffee. You want to hold off on the beer for a while probably ...<P>It doesn't seem to have a brain yet. It should probably have some nice soothing ... :: walks to the kitchen counter :: I know. The screen saver on this computer has a restful bunch of landscape pictures. That ought to be soothing until it grows a brain. Maybe later we can download a nice midi file from the internet so it can listen to something.<P>Now when that water bowl is empty, you remember to refill it. :: muttering :: I'll probably end up taking care of it just like all the others they've dragged home. Well, there's always a first time.<P>OK. That should make it comfortable. You kids have fun now. :: walks to the door :: Don't pester it now! I hope you didn't poke it when you brought it in here.<P>:: leaves the room ::<P>

[munch munch]<P>[munch munch]<P>[munch munch]<P><I>From jelly beans, a chocolate-peanut-butter malt and coffee to... greens.</I><P>:(<P><I>Well, the Creature won't starve. Hopefully, though, Mother will not be the sole provider of food.<P>Grown more active from the warmth, the Creature swells itself with water, feeling more charitable, and returns to the problem of a brain.<P>...These neurons and brain cells aren't easy, either. The Creature might have to attempt travel to the</I> Chopping Block <I>forum and look for an example.</I><P>:)